Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has through her pet project, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) donated one billion naira to the Benue State Government as her contribution to efforts geared towards ensuring that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) living in various Camps across the state get better living conditions.
She announced this on Tuesday July 29, at Government House Makurdi when she paid a sympathy visit to the Government and people of Benue State over the recent killings that occured at Yelewata.
The First Lady who expressed dismay over the incessant unprovoked attacks on Benu so communities which she noted have been going on for over a decade added that if not checked, it would have adverse effects on the nation’s food security.
She charged the people not to give up but continue to have faith in God assuring that efforts are being made to find lasting solutions to the issue as according to her, “There is nothing God can not do”.
While charging Benue people to continually toe the path of peace and dialogue no matter the situation, the First Lady expressed hope that in the nearest future, those living in IDP Camps would return to their ancestral homes to continue with their normal lives.
Tinubu who noted that the country’s diversity is meant to be a uniting factor further appealed to the traditional rulers and religious leaders to help in whatever way they can to console the people of Benue State especially those who have been affected by the various attacks that have taken place in Benue State.
Speaking during the event, the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia disclosed that the State Government is currently hosting over one million, five hundred Internally Displaced Persons spread across various camps in the state.
According to the Governor, the burden of taking care of those IDPs was enormous thus the need to ensure that they return to their ancestral homes in order to be self reliant .
Governor Alia further reiterated his call for the establishment of State Police to enable the State Governments across the country deal with the issue of insecurity especially in the area of ensuring quick response during crisis situations.
The Governor who commended Sen. Tinubu for the impact she is making on the Nigerian populace through the RHI which women, the elderly, members of the vulnerable groups as well as those living in IDP Camps across the state have benefitted
Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Tiv, James Iorzua Ayatse called on the federal government to flush bandits, herders and criminal elements out of Benue and other neighbouring states.
He described the visit of the wife of the President as symbolic and impactful noting that the people of Benue were deeply consoled over her visit.
The Tor Tiv noted that bandits have declared a genocidal war on the people of Benue State arguing that the earlier the situation is tackled, the better for the people.
Ayatse stated that Benue State has been infected with terrorists issues and if the leadership has decided to Play politics the country would be destroyed.
He therefore called on the Federal Government to support all the communities affected by the attacks especially in the areas of rebuilding, resettlement and reconciliation.
Ayatse who acknowledged the efforts of the Renewed Hope Initiative of the wife of the President in the areas of Education, Agriculture and Health further expressed hope that her visit would enable her do more for Benue especially as it concerns the issue of attacks saying though the attacks have not stopped, sequel to the visit of President Tinubu, there was appreciable improvement.
Meanwhile, the First Lady during her visit disclosed that the Renewed Hope Initiative had also put in place modalities to also supply sanitary pads to female school children and support about two hundred and fifty vulnerable people with two hundred and fifty thousand naira each to enable them become strong and build their families.
